Ernie the red heeler is back at home after he went missing Tuesday night when he and his owner were hit by cars at the intersection of Foothills Parkway and Baseline Road in Boulder.

Lauren Shepard said she and her husband Zac Wilkinson were waiting with Ernie to cross at the light when something spooked the dog, causing it to back out of its leash and run out into the road. Ernie was hit by a car and then ran away, and Wilkinson also was hit when he ran into the road after the dog.

"I guess it wasn't on tight enough," she said of the leash. "It's never happened before."

Shepard stayed with her husband while witnesses chased after Ernie, but they couldn't catch the dog. After taking Wilkinson to the hospital -- he suffered broken ribs -- Shepard went around posting pictures of Ernie and recruiting friends to help with the search.

"It was a long night," she said.

Ernie was found Wednesday morning in the area of Moorhead Circle on someone's front porch. The people who lived there put a blanket on Ernie and called animal control. They scanned the dog's microchip to identify it and returned Ernie home.

"We were pretty ecstatic," Shepard said. "He was very excited to be home."

Shepard said she appreciated the outpouring of support from the community in trying to help find Ernie as well as the people who found the dog.

"We were both so worried," she said. "It was so nice to know people were asking about him."

She said Ernie has a small leg fracture but is now home from the veterinarian resting along with her husband.

"They've spent a lot of time on the couch together," she said. "They're both on pain meds, so they're both a bit loopy right now."

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story